Electrical stimulation compress

ABSTRACT

An electrical stimulation device method provides for exact repeatable positioning of stimulation pads onto a body part. The device includes a flexible member for contacting a body part and hook/loop members for tightly supporting the flexible member against the body part. At least one electrical bus is provided which may include a connector for enabling connection of the bus to an electrical lead wire and an electrical contact disposed on the inside of the flexible member. A conductive pad is provided which has dimensions substantially smaller than the dimensions of the flexible member and includes a cover adhesive layer for removably adhering the conductive pad to the flexible member inside with a first side of the cover layer covering the bus contact and an electrical communication therewith. A current controlling media is adhered to a second side of the cover layer and a base layer disposed on the current controlling media is provided for removably adhering the conductive pad to the body part.

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a stimulationelectrode system and more specifically is directed to an electricalstimulation compress, band, or brace device.

[0002] Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation is used, for example,in post-operative and chronic pain control.

[0003] On the other hand, muscle stimulation is useful, for example, inmaintenance and development of muscle tissue and is a particularlyimportant function in sports medicine.

[0004] While significant advantages afforded through the use ofelectrical stimulation of nerves and muscles, its effectiveness can beenhanced when used in combination with a supporting compress, band orbrace, which may not only provide for immobilization of the body part,but also proper placement and positioning of electrical stimulationelectrodes with respect to the body part.

[0005] The use of stimulation electrodes necessarily mandates effectiveelectrical coupling of the electrode to the skin. In order to accomplishthis coupling, prior art devices have incorporated many types ofconductive fluids and/or gels.

[0006] One type of electrode used for temporary application of musclestimulation includes a flat, smooth contacting surface with a separateconductive cream or gel applied to the skin to electrically couple theelectrode thereto. Experience with this system has shown that the creamand gel is messy to use and remove and the electrodes are not suitablefor curved body parts. In addition, subsequent to use of the electrode,the cream or gel must be cleaned and washed from the skin and theelectrode.

[0007] Another type of electrode more suitable for longer termapplication of electrical stimulation or monitoring includes a flexibleconductive fabric or film material. In combination therewith, aconductive adhesive gel is utilized to perform a dual function of bothelectrically coupling the electrode to the body and adhering theelectrode to the skin. While this type of electrode is effective, agreat number of electrodes may be required to provide a long termtreatment for certain conditions. When the electrodes are used incombination with a compress, band, brace gauntlet or other supportinggarment or bandage, it is impractical to dispose of the supportingsystem due to loss of efficacy of the stimulation electrodes.

[0008] The present invention is directed to an electrical stimulationdevice which includes reusable compresses, bands, braces and the like,to a body part in which the electrical stimulation electrode isremovably attached thereto.

[0009] This is accomplished in part through the use of electricalconductive pads, removably and electrically coupled to a compress or thelike, which enables removable adherence to a body part.

[0010] A method encompassed by the present invention enables the preciseplacement of stimulation electrodes on a body part utilizing incombination electrical electrodes, or pads, with differential releaseadhesive thereon and a brace or compress.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An electrical stimulation device in accordance with the presentinvention for application to a body in part generally includes aflexible member for contacting a body part. The flexible member may havesufficient resiliency to act as a brace compress, splint or otherfunction. Means are provided for tightly supporting the flexible memberagainst the body part.

[0012] At least one electrical bus is provided which includes means, forenabling connection of the bus to an electrical lead wire. The bus alsoincludes an electrical contact disposed on an inside of the flexiblemember.

[0013] A conductive pad is provided which has dimensions substantiallysmaller than dimensions of a flexible member. This enables thepositioning of the conductive pad at one of an array of positions on theinside of the flexible member as long as it is placed in electricalcommunication with the contact on the inside of the flexible member.

[0014] A conductive pad generally includes cover electrically conductivegel adhesive layer means for removably adhering the conductive pad tothe flexible member inside, with a first side of the cover layer meanscovering the bus contact and in electrical communication therewith.

[0015] A current controlling media is provided and adhered to a secondside of the cover layer, and base electrically conductive gel adhesivelayer means, disposed on the current controlling media, provides forremovably adhering the conductive pad to the body part.

[0016] The electrical pad is, in fact, a multi-layer means, havingdifferential release properties, for providing electrical interfacebetween the patient's skin and the electrical bus. In this context, themulti-layer means includes a first layer (i.e., the base layer)comprising an electrically conductive gel having a relatively low peelstrength, for removably contacting a body part, and a second layermeans, (i.e., the cover layer), which comprises an electricallyconductive gel having a relatively high peel strength, for contactingthe flexible member inside and the electrical bus therein.

[0017] Thus, the cover layer means and the base layer means haveadhesive properties enabling removal of the conductive pad from the bodypart by separation of the flexible member from the body part with theconductive pad remaining adhered to the flexible member during suchseparation. Subsequently, the pad may be removed from the flexiblemember inside surface and replaced due to the removable adhesiveproperties of the cover layer, or second layer means. Alternatively, aswill be hereinafter discussed in greater detail, the adhesive propertiesof the layers may be selected in order that the flexible member may beremoved with the pads remaining adhered to the body part.

[0018] In addition, the cover layer means and the base layer means mayhave adhesive properties enabling sliding of the conductive pad alongthe body part without separation of the conductive pad from the flexiblemember. This is important in positioning the device on the body. Thus,when the device is applied to the body, it may be moved into properpositioning which entails sliding the conductive pad along the body partwithout separation and misalignment of the conductive pad from theflexible member. The sliding property also facilitates placement, sinceadherence without the ability of translational movement, or sliding,would make placement of the device on a body part more difficult.Without the sliding property, the initial placement of the device on thebody part would have to be exact. This, of course, does not allow forprecise positioning of the electrical pads.

[0019] The device in accordance with the present invention may include aplurality of electrical busses disposed in a spaced apart relationshipwith one another in the flexible member and a plurality of conductivepads, each having dimensions substantially smaller than the flexiblemember dimensions. This arrangement allows for the exact relativepositioning of pads with one another while at the same time allows arange of placement of each pad with respect to one another on theflexible member as long as each is utilized in contact with one of thebusses. Thus, the flexible member can be uniformly made for use withpatients having various size body parts, with the difference in sizeaccommodated for by different spacing arrangements between theconductive pads on the flexible member.

[0020] The current controlling member may be a third gel, a conductivescrim, a conductive cloth, a conductive film or the like.

[0021] A method in accordance with the present invention for applyingand positioning an electrical stimulation device on a body partgenerally includes the steps of removably adhering a plurality ofconductive pads to a body part with a relative low peel strengthelectrically conductive layer. Thereafter, a flexible member is disposedonto the body part and removably adhered to the plurality of conductivepads with a lower peel strength layer. Each pad is electrically coupledto a respective electrical bus extending through the flexible member.

[0022] The body part is stimulated with electrical pulses and pads andthe body part response to the electrical stimulation is determined.

[0023] The flexible member is removed from the body part and theconductive pads remain adhered to the body part. At least one of theconductive pads is removed and reapplied and the steps of disposing theflexible member onto the body part over the pads, electrical stimulationof the body part and a determination of the response to the electricalstimulation is repeated until a desired body part response is obtained.

[0024] Thereafter, a relatively high peel strength layer is applied tothe conductive pads and the flexible member is disposed over the bodypart and adhered to the conductive pads with a relatively high strengthadhesive.

[0025] This enables the pads to be removed from the body part with theflexible member.

[0026] The method further includes marking the flexible pads with theposition of the conductive pads and, as necessary, replacing theconductive pads on the flexible member at the marked positions.

[0027] This method ensures proper relative placement of the conductivepads onto the body part for the most efficient muscle stimulation.

[0028] As an alternative, separate stimulation electrodes may beutilized in the method of the present invention. In this instance, aplurality of stimulation electrodes are removably adhered to a body partwith a relatively low peel strength electrically conductive layer. Thebody part is then stimulated with the stimulation electrode and the bodypart response to the electrical stimulation is determined.

[0029] Thereafter, at least one of the stimulation electrodes is removedand reapplied and the steps of electrically stimulating the body anddetermining the response thereto is repeated until a desired body partresponse is obtained.

[0030] At that point, a flexible member is disposed onto the body partand removably adhered to the plurality of stimulation electrodes with arelatively high peel strength layer. The flexible member is removed fromthe body part with the stimulation electrodes adhered thereto.

[0031] The flexible member is then marked to indicate the positions ofthe stimulation electrodes thereon and the stimulation electrodesremoved from the flexible member.

[0032] A plurality of conductive pads are then removably adhered to themarked positions on the flexible members with each pad beingelectrically coupled to a respective electrical bus in the flexiblemember. The flexible member is then disposed over the body part toremovably adhere the conductive pads in positions corresponding to thestimulation electrodes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The advantages and features of the present invention will bebetter understood by the following description when considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an outside of a flexible member inaccordance with the present invention generally showing a means fortightly supporting the flexible member against a body part, not shown,along with a plurality of electrical busses;

[0035]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an inside of the flexible membershown in FIG. 1, also showing cooperative means for tightly supportingthe flexible member against a body part, also not shown in FIG. 2, aswell as a reverse side of the electrical busses;

[0036]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the inside of the flexible member shownin FIG. 2 shown with a plurality of conductive pads placed thereon andremovably adhered to the flexible member inside and in electricalcontact with the busses; and

[0037]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of an electrical pad suitable for usewith the flexible member shown in FIGS. 1-3 which, in combinationtherewith, provides for an electrical stimulation device in accordancewith the present invention for application to a body part; and

[0038] FIGS. 5-7 illustrate the method of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an electricalstimulation device 10 for application to a body part (not shown) whichgenerally includes a flexible member 12 for contacting a body part. Thesize and shape of the flexible member 12 may be varied considerably fromthat illustrated in the Figures of the present application, dependingupon the body part to be contacted by the flexible member. It should bereadily appreciated that the flexible member would have differentdimensions and sizes for use on an arm, on a leg or other body part, theillustrated flexible member 12 being selected for use on a patient'slimb, i.e., arm or leg.

[0040] It should also be appreciated that the material of constructionof flexible member is varied as long as it is not electricallyconductive. In fact, the stiffness of the member may be selected inorder that the member 12 functions as a brace, a compress, bandage orother suitable application to a body part.

[0041] Micro hooks 16, disposed on an outside 18 of the flexible member(shown in FIG. 1) and micro loops 22 on an inside 24 of the flexiblemember 12 (shown in FIG. 2) attached to fingers 26 of the flexiblemember may provide a means for tightly supporting the flexible memberagainst the body part (again not shown in the Figures).

[0042] A plurality of electrical buses extend through the flexiblemember 12 and, on the outside 18, of the flexible member 12, includesnaps 34, or the like, which provides a means for enabling connection ofthe buses to one or more electrical lead wires, not shown.

[0043] On the inside 24 of the flexible member, each bus 32, includes anelectrical contact 36 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0044] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the present invention includesat least one, and preferably a plurality of conductive pads 40, havingdimensions substantially smaller than the dimensions of the flexiblemember 12. This difference in overall dimensions between the pad 40 andflexible member 12, enables a variety of placement patterns, or arrays,of the conductive pads onto the inside 24 of the flexible member 12.This allows for precise alignment of the pads 40 onto a body part (notshown) and also to accommodate for patient having different sizes ofbody parts. The only limitation of placement of the pads 40 on theinside 24 of the flexible member 12 is the condition that the conductivepads 40 each cover a contact 36 of the electrical bus 32.

[0045] With specific reference to FIG. 4, each conductive pad 40includes a cover electrically conductive gel adhesive layer 42 whichprovides a means for removably adhering the conductive pad 40 to theflexible member inside 24 with a first side of the cover layer coveringthe bus contact 36 and in electrical communication therewith.

[0046] A current controlling media 50 is adhered to a second side 52 ofthe gel layer 42. This conductive media may be of a number ofconfigurations including a metal scrim, or a conductive gel, aconductive fabric, a conductive film, or a conductive film withconductive traces, as is well known in the art. See U.S. Pat. No.5,904,712.

[0047] The pad 40 further includes a base electrically conductive geladhesive layer 56 disposed on the current controlling conductive media50 which provides a means for removably adhering the conductive pad 40to the body part.

[0048] Thus, the conductive pad 40 is, in fact, a multi-layer means forproviding an electrical interface between the body part and theelectrical bus 32 with the multi-layer means including a first layer, oras hereinabove designated, a base layer comprising an electricallyconductive gel having a relatively low peel strength for removablycontacting the body part, and a second layer, hereinabove referred to asthe cover layer, comprising an electrically conductive gel having arelatively high peel strength, for contacting the flexible member insideand contacting the electrical bus.

[0049] Thus, the cover, or second, layer and the base, or first, layerhave adhesive properties enabling removal of the conductive pad 40 fromthe body part by separation of the flexible member 12 from the bodypart, with the conductive pad 40 remaining adhered to the flexiblemember inside 24 during such separation. Accordingly, the flexiblemember can be applied and removed to the body part without disturbingthe relative placement of the pads 40 on the flexible member insidesurface 24.

[0050] Further, the cover or second, layer and the base, or first, layermay have adhesive properties enabling sliding of the conductive pad 40across a body part without separation of the conductive pad 40 from theflexible member 12. Importantly, as hereinabove noted, this featureenables the device 10 to be properly fixed to the body part by the hook16 and loops 22 by exactly positioning the pads 40 to desired locationswithout complete removal of the device 10 from the body part andreapplication.

[0051] All of the layers 42, 50 of the pad 40 are described in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/021,009, now U.S. Pat. No. _(——————),entitled MEDICAL ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE. This referencedapplication Ser. No. 09/021,009, is totally incorporated herein by thisspecific reference thereto including all drawings and specifications forteaching a person skilled in the art how to make and use the conductivepads 40 in accordance with the present invention.

[0052] Further description of the conductive organic polymers that maybe used in preparing the layers 42, 56 may be derived from thecopolymerization of a mixture of monomeric acrylic acid andN-vinyl-pyrollidone. These polymers are set forth in U.S. Pat. No.5,868,136, which is to be incorporated herewith in its entiretyincluding all drawings and specification to describe generally suitablepolymers.

[0053] With reference to FIGS. 5-7, there is illustrated a method inaccordance with the present invention for applying and positioning anelectrical stimulation device 60 onto a body part 62.

[0054] As is well known in the art, stimulation electrodes must beaccurately placed on a body part in order to ensure effectivestimulation. This is particularly true when multiple electrodes areutilized. Unfortunately, the precise placement of the electrodes is noteasily accomplished by a patient utilizing a stimulation device over along period of time. While a qualified physician or attendant canproperly place electrodes on a patient's body, such procedures are notamenable to long term use in which the electrodes are replaced. Thepresent invention enables the device 60 to be utilized by a patient withrepeated applications and changes of electrodes while maintaining theprecise positioning of the electrodes with respect to the body parts toeffect efficient stimulation.

[0055] As illustrated in FIGS. 5-7, the flexible member 64 which may beidentical to the flexible member 12 hereinabove described, includes aplurality of buses 68 therethrough, also hereinabove described.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, the method includes removably adhering aplurality of conventional stimulation electrodes, or pads 70 to a bodypart with a relatively low peel strength electrically conductive layeras hereinabove discussed in connection with the pads 40. Thereafter, theelectrodes, or pads 70 may be separately electrified to stimulate thebody part 62 and the body part response to such electrical stimulationis determined in a conventional manner.

[0057] Thereafter, one of the stimulation electrodes 70 may be removedand reapplied as indicated by the dashed line 70A in FIG. 5. The bodypart is again electrically stimulated with the electrodes 70, 70A andthe body part response is determined. This procedure is repeated until adesired body part response is obtained.

[0058] Thereafter, the flexible member 64 is disposed onto the body part62 and removably adhered to the electrode 70, the adherence being madewith a relatively high peel strength layer.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 6, the flexible member 64 is removed with theelectrodes 70 adhered thereto.

[0060] The positions of the electrodes 70 are then marked onto theflexible member 64 and replaced with conductive pads 40 which are incontact with the electrical busses 68 in the flexible member 64. Becausethe flexible member 64 is marked, repeated replacement of conductivepads 40 (not shown in FIGS. 5-7) with precise relative spacing isenabled. Thus, a patient can replace conductive pads and reapply thedevice 60 while ensuring proper placement of the pads 40 onto the bodypart 62.

[0061] As hereinabove described, the stimulation electrodes 70 may bereplaced by the conductive pads 40 after placement of the electrode 70onto the body part 64 is determined.

[0062] Alternatively, the conductive pads 40 themselves may be used todetermine the exact placement.

[0063] In this procedure, a plurality of conductive pads 40 areremovably adhered to the body part 60 with a relatively low peelstrength electrically through a conductive layer. The flexible member 64is disposed on the body part 62 and removably adhered to the pluralityof conductive pads 40 with a low peel strength layer, each pad 40 beingelectrically coupled to a respective bus 68 extending through theflexible member 64.

[0064] The body part is electrically stimulated with electrical pulsesapplied through the buses 68 and pads 40. The body part 62 response isdetermined and the flexible member 64 is removed from the body part withthe conductive pads 40 remaining adhered to the body part 62. At leastone of the conductive pads 40 is removed and reapplied and the steps ofstimulation and determination of body response are repeated until adesired body part response is obtained.

[0065] Thereafter, a relatively high peel strength layer is applied tothe conductive pads adhered to the body part and the flexible member 64is disposed onto the body part and adhered to the flexible member withthe relatively high peel strength adhesive.

[0066] Thus, the use of adhesive layers having relatively high peelstrength which provide a differential release enables the performance ofthe method in accordance with the present invention.

[0067] In accordance with the present invention, the conductive pads 40may be adhered to the flexible member 64 with a relatively high peelstrength layer and adhered to the body part with a relatively low peelstrength layer to enable repeated disposal and removal of the flexiblelayer 64 to the body part 62 without disturbing the relative positioningof the conductive pads adhered thereto.

[0068] Alternatively, the conductive pads 40 may be adhered to theflexible member 64 with a relatively low peel strength layer and adheredto the body part with a relatively high peel strength layer to enablethe conductive pads to remain adhered to the body part 62 when theflexible member 64 is removed from the body part 62. This enablesrepeated application of the flexible member and replacement of theconductive pads 40 thereon through the use of the markings on theflexible member 64 indicating the proper positioning of the conductivepads 40 thereon.

[0069] In a further embodiment of the method in accordance with thepresent invention, a patient may be stimulated with electrodes 70 thatare moved until the desired response is obtained. Then the patient'sskin is marked with an easily removable marker where the electrodes areplaced. The standard stimulation electrodes 70 are then replaced withthe conductive pads 40 using the marks as guidance. The flexible member64 is then placed over the pads 40 in its optimum position. The flexiblemember 64 is removed with the pads 40. The outline of the pads 40 ismarked with a permanent marker on the inside of the flexible member 64for future reference. The flexible member is ready for use. The pads 40can be replaced as desired by using the marked reference outlines forcorrect and accurate placement. This can be done by the patient since nofurther pad adjustment is necessary to effect proper stimulation.

[0070] Although there has been hereinabove described a specificembodiment of the present invention for the purpose of illustrating themanner in which the invention may be used to advantage, it should beappreciated that the invention is not limited thereto. Accordingly, anyand all modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements which mayoccur to those skilled in the art should be considered to be within thescope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electrical stimulation device for applicationto a body part, the device comprising: a flexible member for contactinga body part; means for tightly supporting said flexible member againstthe body part; at least one electrical bus, said electrical bus havingmeans, for enabling connection of the bus to an electrical lead wire andan electrical contact disposed on an inside of said flexible member; anda conductive pad having dimensions substantially smaller than dimensionsof said flexible member, said conductive pad comprising: coverelectrically conductive gel adhesive layer means for removably adheringsaid conductive pad to the flexible member inside with a first side ofthe cover layer means covering the bus contact and in electricalcommunication therewith; a current controlling media adhered to a secondside of the cover layer; and base electrically conductive gel adhesivelayer means, disposed on said current controlling media, for removablyadhering said conductive pad to said body part.
 2. The device accordingto claim 1 wherein the cover layer means and the base layer means haveadhesive properties enabling removal of the conductive pad from saidbody part by separation of the flexible member from said body part, theconductive pad remaining adhered to said flexible member during suchseparation.
 3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the cover layermeans and the base layer means have adhesive properties enabling slidingof the conductive pad along said body part without separation of theconductive pad from said flexible member.
 4. The device according toclaim 1 wherein said flexible member has sufficient resiliency to act asa brace for said body part.
 5. The device according to claim 1 furthercomprising a plurality of electrical busses disposed in a spaced apartrelationship with one another in said flexible member, and a pluralityof conductive pads each having dimension substantially smaller than theflexible member dimensions.
 6. The device according to claim 5 whereineach conductive pad has sufficient conductiveness to enable efficientelectrical coupling between the busses and said body part independent ofplacement of each conductive pad on the flexible member inside as longas each conductive pad covers a respective buss contact.
 7. The deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein said current controlling media comprises ascrim.
 8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said currentcontrolling media comprises a third gel.
 9. An electrical stimulationdevice for application to a body part, the device comprising: a flexiblemember for contacting a body part; means for tightly supporting saidflexible member against the body part; at least one electrical bus, saidelectrical bus having means, for enabling connection of the bus to anelectrical lead wire and an electrical contact disposed on an inside ofsaid flexible member; and a conductive pad having dimensionssubstantially smaller than dimensions of said flexible member, saidconductive pad comprising: multilayer means for providing electricalinterface between the body part and said electrical bus, said multilayermeans including first layer means, comprising an electrically conductivegel having a relatively low peel strength, for removably contacting thebody part, and second layer means, comprising an electrically conductivegel having a relatively high peel strength, for contacting the flexiblemember inside and contacting said electrical bus.
 10. The deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein the first layer means and the second layermeans have adhesive properties enabling removal of the conductive padfrom said body part by separation of the flexible member from said bodypart, the conductive pad remaining adhered to said flexible memberduring such separation.
 11. The device according to claim 9 wherein thefirst layer means and the second layer means have adhesive propertiesenabling sliding of the conductive pad along said body part withoutseparation of the conductive pad from said flexible member.
 12. Thedevice according to claim 9 wherein said flexible member has sufficientresiliency to act as a brace for said body part.
 13. The deviceaccording to claim 9 further comprising a plurality of electrical busdisposed in a spaced apart relationship with one another in saidflexible member, and a plurality of conductive pads each havingdimensions substantially smaller than the flexible member dimensions.14. The device according to claim 13 wherein each conductive pad hassufficient conductive to enable efficient electrical coupling betweenone of the buses and said body part independent of placement, eachconductive pad on the flexible member inside as long as each conductivepad covers a respective buss contact.
 15. The device according to claim9 wherein said current controller media comprises a scrim.
 16. Thedevice according to claim 9 wherein said current conductive mediacomprises a third gel.
 17. A method for applying and positioning anelectrical stimulation device onto a body part, said method comprisingthe steps of: a) removably adhering a plurality of stimulationelectrodes to a body part with a relatively low peel strengthelectrically conductive layer; b) electrically stimulating the body partwith the stimulation electrodes; c) determining body part response tothe electrical stimulation; d) removing and reapplying at least one ofthe stimulation electrodes and repeating steps b and c until a desiredbody part response is obtained; e) disposing a flexible member onto thebody part and removably adhering the flexible member to the plurality ofelectrical stimulators with a relatively high peel strength layer; f)removing the flexible member from the body part with the electricalstimulators adhered thereto; g) marking the flexible member to indicatethe positions of the electrical stimulators thereon; h) removing theelectrical stimulators from the flexible member; i) removably adhering aplurality of conductive pads to the marked positions, each pad beingelectrically coupled to a respective electrical bus in the flexiblemember; and j) disposing the flexible member over the body part toremovably adhere the conductive pads in position corresponding to theelectrical stimulators.
 18. The method according to claim 17 wherein theconductive pads are adhered to the flexible member with a relativelyhigh peel strength layer and adhered to the body part with a relativelylow peel strength layer and adhered to the body part with a relativelylow peel strength layer to enable repeated disposal and removal of theflexible layer on the body part, without disturbing the relativepositioning of the conductive pads adhered thereto.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 17 wherein the conductive pads are adhered to theflexible member with a relatively low peel strength layer and adhered tothe body part with a relatively high peel strength to enable theconductive pads to remain adhered to the body part when the flexiblemember is removed from the body part.
 20. A method for applying andpositioning an electrical stimulation device onto a body part, saidmethod comprising the steps of: a) removably adhering a plurality ofconductive pads to a body part with a relatively low peel strengthelectrically conductive layer; b) disposing a flexible member onto thebody part and removably adhering the flexible member to the plurality ofconductive pads with a lower peel strength layer, each pad beingelectrically coupled to a respective electrical bus extending throughthe flexible member; c) electrically stimulating the body part withelectrical pulses applied through the buses and pads; d) determiningbody part response to the electrical stimulation; e) removing theflexible member from the body part, the conductive pads remainingadhered to the body part; f) removing and reapplying at least one of theconductive pads and repeating steps b, c and d, until a desired bodypart response is obtained; g) applying a relatively high peel strengthlayer to the conductive pads adhered to the body part; and h) disposingthe flexible member onto the body part and adhering the flexible memberto the conductive pads with the relatively high peel strength adhesive.21. The method according to claim 20 further comprising the step ofremoving the flexible member from the body part with the conductive padsadhered thereto and marking the flexible member to indicate the positionof the conductive pads thereon.
 22. The method according to claim 21further comprising the step of adhering replacement conductive pads onthe flexible member at the marked position
 23. A method for applying andpositioning an electrical stimulation device onto a body part, saidmethod comprising the steps of: a) removably adhering a plurality ofstimulation electrodes to a body part with a relatively low peelstrength electrically conductive layer; b) electrically stimulating thebody part with the stimulation electrodes; c) determining body partresponse to the electrical stimulation; d) removing and reapplying atleast one of the stimulation electrodes and repeating steps b and cuntil a desired body part response is obtained; e) marking the body partto indicate the position of the electrode; f) Replacing the electrodewith conductive pads; g) disposing a flexible member onto the body partand conductive pads; and h) removing the flexible member with theconductive pads adhered thereto.
 24. The method according to claim 23further comprising the step of marking the flexible member to indicatethe position of the conductive pads thereon.
 25. The method according toclaim 24 further comprising the step of replacing the conductive pads onthe flexible member with other conductive pads using the indicationmarking as a reference for proper placement on the flexible member.